Well, that's an interesting X-post.
Natter 34: Freak With No Name
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Geez, but not worth saying 3 times.
Well, that's an interesting X-post.
What was that, again?
The noun benedict has one meaning:
Meaning #1: a newly married man (especially one who has long been a bachelor)
...
Benedict XV, 1854–1922, pope (1914–22), an Italian (b. Genoa) named Giacomo della Chiesa; successor of Pius X. He was made archbishop of Bologna in 1907 and cardinal in 1914, two months before his election as pope. His policy in World War I was one of the strictest neutrality, and he had the respect of all belligerents. He originated several proposals for peace. Benedict was charitable toward war victims, and he founded the Vatican service for prisoners of war. During his pontificate France and England resumed diplomatic relations with the Holy See
XII and XIII were also about the reforming and de-luxurising.
Blessed.
Okay. That makes sense. I know a benediction is a blessing, but the roots of the word are from bene-->good/well, and dict-->speak, so speaking well of, blessing.
The Curia thought they were getting a simple place holder with John XXIII, though, and we saw what happened there.
His policy in World War I was one of the strictest neutrality, and he had the respect of all belligerents. He originated several proposals for peace.
That speaks to some of the best of JPII as well.
How do they pick the fancy name? Does he get to choose?
He gets to choose. And then we get to figure out what message he's trying to send with his choice. According to the former priest in my office, it's something of a break with tradition to choose a name that been used recently, and there was a Benedictine he thinks around 1930ish. So my take (and his) is that whatever the message is, consider it allcaps. ("Probably a real conservative goosestepper," quoth the former Father Ralph. )
Now off to research Ben XV.
They were saying on the CBC that Ratzzinger's nickname was "Cardinal No," and he's very conservative.